A man had to be cut out of his car after a smash involving an unmarked police BMW X5 in Thornton Lodge.

Witnesses said the driver of the white BMW – a 36-year-old dad-of-two from Crosland Moor – was just pulling away from the side of the road when it was struck by a black X5 4x4 vehicle travelling at speed.

The white car was shunted across the road and into the side of a former showroom building.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene and firefighters spent half-an-hour cutting the roof off the car to release the driver. He was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

A driver had to be cut free from his white BMW after a collision with an unmarked police BMW vehicle (left) in Manchester Road, Thornton Lodge.

The man’s front seat passenger escaped with minor injuries. It is believed two officers in the police vehicle were also unhurt.

The smash happened at around 8pm in Manchester Road, Thornton Lodge, just outside the former Eldon Electricals store.